Assault charge no barrier to wedding

LOVE has triumphed at Orange Local Court after Brett Thomas was given permission to speak with his bride-to-be to help arrange their wedding.

Thomas, who is facing charges of allegedly assaulting his partner and pouring petrol over her car, returned to court to seek a ruling last month that he have no contact with the alleged victim, be overturned.

Thomas’ solicitor Rebecca McIlveen told relieving magistrate Michael Allen she was handed a two-page statement by the alleged victim before the case for a variation of an apprehended violence order was to be heard.

Ms McIlveen said she had not had a chance to speak with the alleged victim of the assault but she wished to retract her statement.

“My client is wanting to get married and he needs to make wedding preparations,” Ms McIlveen told the magistrate.

“I have a nine-page document here in front of me which includes allegations of head butting by Mr Thomas against the victim,” he said.

After agreeing to vary the apprehended violence order so the couple can resume a relationship and go ahead with wedding plans, Mr Allen warned Thomas he still had to comply with other conditions of the AVO imposed last month.

“You must not consume alcohol because if you do you are in breach of your bail, and you must be of good behaviour,” he told the accused.

“Can we live together again,” Thomas asked Mr Allen.

“Yes you may,” Mr Allen said.

Police are proceeding with the case against Thomas for allegedly assaulting his partner and a second charge of destroying or damaging property, relating to her vehicle.